Know your client
You would not pitch a ball to your 8-year-old the same way you would to your 16-year-old who’s just dying to hit one out of the park. The same holds true for the audience you’re pitching your event idea to. Make sure your pitch reflects the personality of the client, brand or product.
Consider Your Opening Line
Unless you are genuinely funny – don’t start with a joke. If it doesn’t work you’re left hanging there with nothing and it will throw you off the rest of the pitch. Ask a question, use a quotation or consider current affairs but stay away from any political, personal or religious comment. These things can often turn into conversations that can take up the entire pitch and cause the client to lose focus or worse, you insult the client.
Don’t tell them who they are, they already know
Put some effort into the design of your handout and find a creative title rather than the name of the company and or client. They know their name. They don’t need to see it in print. Make the print large enough to read at a glance, don’t make it too copy heavy and make sure you’ve got some easily read bullet points. Lastly, don’t knock down a forest. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve leafed through presentations with only a few words on each page. Five persons around a table reading a 25 page powerpoint presentation that should take up five pages is annoying. It won’t be well received and looks un-professional.
Give them a visual
We are all visual creatures and, while you may be able to visualize the way the mauve lighting affects the sheer white wall coverings you are hanging behind the podium, your client will need some help. Paint them the best picture you can and don’t’ be afraid to bring in some props and or visuals to help. They’ll appreciate it.
Be anecdotal
Throw in a couple of anecdotes on relevant events near the end. Draw lines of similarity between those events and the pitch to your current prospective clients. This will show off your experience and your problem solving, leaving them with an impression of someone that has proven himself or herself on the ground when it counts.
Finish with a question
Stay away from the dreaded “Do you have any questions” in your finish. Try instead, “is there anything else about the event you would like to know” This way you’ve steered them to a response – encouraging interaction rather than blank stares
Here’s to a home run!